Hope and help for triple-negative (TNBC) and other forms of hormone-negative breast cancer.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Natural Intervention Helps Chemo

Spending two hours a week in nature watching birds, tending to plants or gardens, sitting by a window with a view of trees or a garden can cut the fatigue that is often associated with cancer treatment. This comes from research in the journal Cancer Nursing. Here's what I said about it in an article I wrote in Mamm on cancer anxiety:

Research published in 2003 in the journal Cancer Nursing suggests one way to overcome attention problems that’s as simple as, well, a walk in the park. Bernadine Cimprich, R.N., Ph.D., the study’s lead author, studied mental fatigue in a group of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. They agreed to follow a structured program of “natural intervention,” spending two hours a week in nature—watching birds or trees, tending to plants or gardens. They were also instructed to give their full attention to their surroundings, rather than listening to an iPod or planning a work meeting. The women took standard cognitive tests before intervention began, after surgery, then three, six and twelve months afterward. As compared to patients treated without any nature therapy, participants showed better sustained recovery of their attention skills.

Cimprich, associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing in Ann Arbor, says that the stress of dealing with breast cancer can lead to “attention fatigue,” and that nature therapy helps relax the parts of the brain that help to focus actively on tasks. Catherine Vincent, R.N., Ph.D., was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 while working on a postgraduate fellowship with Cimprich, so using natural intervention was a logical approach as she went on her daily walks. “I just inhaled the outdoors,” says Vincent, 59, assistant professor of maternal-child nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her cancer treatment—which included chemotherapy—went smoothly, which she attributes to the conscious rest she gave her brain. “I know part of it was really paying attention to what I needed,” she says. “Part of it was restoration through natural intervention.” Read more here.

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Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Hope, Treatment, Recovery

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Patricia Prijatel

Founder of Positives About Negative and author of Surviving Triple Negative Breast Cancer

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Welcome

When I was diagnosed with hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer, I required a positive attitude of myself—I was not going to let a disease have the upper hand. I hope I can share some at that attitude with you while I offer what I have learned in my trek through this disease as a patient and medical writer.

It's a given that life ends in death. Cancer just makes you face that inevitability more directly than you might have before. To me, that means living fully right now.

Three Mountain Dogs, a children's book by Patricia Prijatel

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks hormone receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and Her2/neu. It affects about 20 percent of all those with breast cancer. This blog offers information and hope for those with TNBC and other forms of hormone-negative breast cancer.

Calm Spirit Note Cards

Blank greeting cards with the Calm Spirit image are available in packets of 6. They're ideal for sending a personal message of encouragement to anyone living with cancer. Boxes of six are available for $10.00 and can be ordered by contacting my friend Madlyn at madlyn.ferraro@ gmail com. Individual cards are $2.50 each.